NRL star Curtis Scott has walked away from court with a conviction after he was found guilty of assaulting and threatening his former partner Tay-Leiha Clark during their two-year relationship.
Magistrate Daniel Covington sentenced the 25-year-old to a 12-month community corrections order in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
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Scott pleaded not guilty to four counts of common assault, stalk or intimidate with the intention of causing fear or physical harm, intentionally choke a person without consent, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choke a person with recklessness.
After a series of hearings earlier this year, Mr Covington found Scott guilty of three of the charges – assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and stalk or intimidate with the intention of causing fear or physical harm.
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Mr Covington ruled the former NRL star pushed Ms Clark during an altercation at her parents’ home in Sylvania, causing injuries to her head, forearm and wrist.
He also found that during a holiday at Lake Conjola on the NSW south coast, Scott charged into Ms Clark, knocking her to the ground.
Scott was also found guilty of verbally threatening Ms Clark during a phone conversation in which he threatened to kill both her and himself and after which he deliberately drove his car into a tree.
The 25-year-old was cleared of other allegations, including that he choked Ms Clark during an argument on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final.
During sentencing on Friday, defence barrister Slade Howell told the court that Scott was only 21 at the time of the offence, had no criminal history and was a person of good character.
“This was the first serious relationship he had … it involved feelings that were difficult for both parties to navigate, particularly Mr Scott, being jealousy and insecurity,” Mr Howell told the court.
“It might suggest a level of immaturity in respect to his history of no previous relationships.
“None of the offences were planned, they were all spontaneous and reactive.”
Mr Howell said the 25-year-old was in a “heightened emotional state” and was vulnerable when he assaulted and stalked Ms Clark.
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He argued Scott had “good prospects” of rehabilitation and should not receive a conviction, as he had already suffered majorly after he was stood down from his career when he was charged in 2021.
“He was stood down from his profession and has been unable to play football since that time – that is a whole season on the sidelines,” Mr Howell said.
“That’s some extra punishment that is outside of the scope of these proceedings.”
A police prosecutor told the court that Scott should receive convictions, as Ms Clark continued to suffer “emotional harm”.
He said Scott was supposed to be someone she turned to “for love and care”.
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Mr Covington received references from Scott’s current partner Zali Fay and employer, who both spoke of his good character.
He sentenced Scott to three community corrections orders for the different offences – one for 12 months, one 10 months and one six months – to run concurrently for 12 months.
This means he must be of good behaviour and be under supervision by Sutherland Community Corrections.
Scott has also been ordered to pay an $800 fine for the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a fine of $600 for the common assault charge.
A court order was also finalised in which Scott is not allowed to approach Ms Clark for the next two years.
Scott refused to say anything when questioned by media outside the court.
